Career as an Instructor

[Mattyemm]

Hi this my first post here and I'm looking for some/any/all advice because I've decided to fulfil an ambition and becoming an instructor.
I have a PPL (gained in 2003/renewed in 2012) with just over 400hrs and I'm about to start the CPL/ATPL ground school. I love GA flying and I've done some great stuff gaining hours glider towing in a supercub a life time ago and doing my aerobatic course last summer (I have my first competition coming up).
I love teaching (instructing is part of my current work) and I've had the fortune to be taught by some great and passionate flying instructors and I've wasted time and money with some of the other. I don't have delusions or desires of an airline careers, GA aviation is what I love and I want to combine this with my passion for teaching.

So to the questions:
1/. Recommendations for good CPL and FI schools/courses around the Bristol/Gloucester area. West london area is also an option.
2/. Have I missed anything important with the transition to EASA (most likely). I was intending to go through the ground school then the CPL and FI flying courses is this still the route to take and if so what are the pit holes to look out for.
3/. My headmark is to be able to do this full time and return some of the passion and experience that I've had the privilege to benefit from. What are my chances of full time employment? My club has already said they would have weekend work for me and maybe more in the summer but what is the general employment market like?
4/. I know the pay will be low but looking ahead what's a realistic level to aspire to after experience, extra ratings, qualifying as an examiner etc.

[taff_lightning]

My thought

Pick a school with at least the option of work afterwards. Apart from the obvious reason you'll really benefit from the support and development of the structured environment. I'd been fly for twelve years when I started and couldn't believe the learning curve. Also try to get unrestricted doing weekend club work will take an age.

I reckon full time work would best be found at a commercial school. We only really want our guys full time... But here's kicker... Think of how're you're gonna fund for first 2 years at least. You can't live on people instructors money. My guys make about £10k pa. We ask a lot and offer little in return (harsh but honest).

You'll have to move up the chain. More experience, more tickets, etc. As a PPL CFI I can just about make ends meet. There is light at the end of the tunnel. CPL/ME/IR instructors do ok but it's a long time coming. I have no idea how guys how flying club instructors get by.

Steve Williams who does the FIC stuff at aeros in Gloucester is a good chap, go have a chat.

Sorry if this isn't as succinct as it could be. Long day in the air. I'll say one thing.. If you can put up with all the sh#t and don't mind not having a nice car or holidays it's the best job in the world. ;o)

[Mattyemm]

Thanks Taff really appreciate your thoughts and your honesty. That was basically how I thought it would be and what I’m budgeting for, but it’s good to know it’s worth it.

[172510]

You may do the FI before CPL/IR, and instruct at LAPL level, and at PPL level as soon as you pass your written CPL test.
Doing the FI first, and then your CPL/IR might be a good idea.

[RTN11]

From where you are now, with your experience behind you, it would certainly be worth doing groundschool, then straight into the FI rating. You could then start instructing weekends straight away - and get paid! You could then get the CPL and IR later on (assuming you want to go all the way if you're doing ATPL groundschool).

The only thing to watch out for if you are doing ATPL groundschool is that you have 3 years from the date of the last exam to complete both the CPL and IR and get the paperwork to the CAA.

I went CPL-FI then waited about 18 months before I did the IR, best decision I ever made as it got me onto the instructing scene much quicker with much less debt for the first year, and no IR revalidation to worry about. That was before you could get paid as a PPL-FI, and with your experience already there will be no problems with the 200 hours required for an FI course.